Ashley Hicks, 25, of Solihull, described as "exceptionally capable," was leading a six-man team in October 2012 and fell down a gorge

A Royal Marine on a special forces “escape and evasion” training exercise in Wales died after falling more than 100ft down a steep gorge at night, an inquest has heard.

It wasn’t shown on maps used by soldiers and in the darkness they hadn’t realised the danger.

Giving evidence from behind a screen at Caernarfon, Gwynedd, a fellow marine known as “Soldier A” described how teams were practising the skills they had been taught to survive in the wild and evade an enemy force. It was part of the selection process for a specialist military unit.

Ashley Hicks, 25, of Solihull, who was described as “exceptionally capable,” was leading a six-man team in October 2012 and stepped over a dry-stone wall.

But Soldier A said: “Within a few seconds he slipped and had fallen down. There was the sound of him hitting the bottom of the gorge.”

Soldier A and a colleague climbed down to him while the rest of the patrol activated emergency beacons.

Soldier A said: “He was slightly responsive, but barely. He was conscious but slipping out of consciousness.”

Eventually Marine Hicks stopped breathing and was given CPR before an RAF rescue helicopter reached the scene.

Soldier A said: “The gorge was flanked by thick woodland. It was difficult to get the winch down into the location because of the treetops.”

Marine Hicks died at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.

Soldier A told assistant coroner Nicola Jones that he also looked at the Snowdonia terrain on Google Earth.

After the accident near Trawsfynydd, another of the seven patrols on exercise turned up and seemingly became “spooked”, mistakenly thinking the hunting force had spotted them. They ran and one soldier slipped and fell 10 to 12 metres down the gorge and injured his leg. His fall was broken by trees, the inquest heard.

Questioned by barrister David Whittaker for the marine’s family ,who stressed that they weren’t seeking to blame anyone but wanted any lessons to be learned, Soldier A described how he rejoined the exercise 48 hours later. But directing staff ordered soldiers only to move during the day.

Soldier A told the inquest: “I believe there had been a third, or even perhaps fourth incident with another group doing a similar exercise who may have struggled under the conditions. The exact details I am not sure.”

In evidence Soldier B said the gorge hadn’t been identified as being there and he believed there was only a “small riverbed” rather than a 31-metre drop. He believed it would be regarded as “out of bounds” now.

When the soldiers were dropped by helicopter into the area they had the equivalent of a road map, the inquest heard.

Mr Whittaker said:"If you had known then what you found out that evening, then the gorge would have been deemed hazardous and very likely placed out of bounds?"

Soldier B :"That's correct."

Pathologist Dr Mark Lord said the marine had multiple injuries.

The hearing continues.

Marine Hicks, of 40 Commando, has been described previously by his family as a “proud marine, hard as nails but with a soft heart.”